Ex-Fox News Channel founder, political consultant Roger Ailes dies

Published 8:55 am, Thursday, May 18, 2017

Roger Ailes attends a special screening of “Kingsman: The Secret Service” in New York on Feb. 9, 2015.

Roger Ailes attends a special screening of “Kingsman: The Secret Service” in New York on Feb. 9, 2015.

Photo: Photo By Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Ex-Fox News Channel founder, political consultant Roger Ailes dies

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NEW YORK >> Roger Ailes, who transformed TV news by creating Fox News Channel, only to be ousted at the height of his reign for alleged sexual harassment, died Thursday, Fox News reported. He was 77.

A former GOP operative to candidates including Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, Ailes later turned his media savvy to running TV networks. In early 1996 he accepted a challenge from media titan Rupert Murdoch to build a news network from scratch to compete with CNN.

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That October, Ailes flipped the switch on Fox News Channel. It became the audience leader in cable news. It also emerged as a powerful force on the political scene, while the feisty, hard-charging Ailes swatted off criticism that the network he branded as “Fair and Balanced” had a conservative tilt.

He was abruptly dismissed from Fox News in July 2016 in the wake of a lawsuit filed by former anchor Gretchen Carlson accusing Ailes of sexual improprieties.

Media figures and others paid tribute to Ailes:

“Roger Ailes died this morning, our deepest sympathies to Beth and his son, Zach. Roger was a media genius, good friend and great American.” — Lou Dobbs.

“He has dramatically and forever changed the political and the media landscape singlehandedly for the better.” — Sean Hannity.

“Deeply saddened by death of Roger Ailes. He had many critics and like ALL of us his sins, but I remember a great patriot, friend and boss.” — Fox commentator, former presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

“Roger Ailes founded one of the most important and successful media outlets in American history. I will miss his friendship dearly. RIP.” — Laura Ingraham.

“Rest in peace, Roger Ailes, you made a difference in this nation, a very great difference.” — Country rock star Charlie Daniels.